Becoming

The Meeting

"Hey kiddo! What time is fuckface gonna be here?" Harold asks as he walks in, I've been here for a couple hours getting everything ready, we open in a couple minutes so I'm over by the soda machine finishing getting all the stupid little spouts on the drink machine. Finishing putting the last couple spouts on, I turn to respond. Harold is a pretty big dude, I know he's had some health problems due to his weight and I worry about him. He's tall maybe like 5'10 or 5'11, cropped black hair, brown eyes, his skin is tan and pale all at the same time. I guess that the half Korean side of him. His nose is short and round and it fits his round face.

"You really should be nicer to people..." I say looking at him with a scowl, but he just laughs because he knows I'm not actually upset.

"Ya, ya... so what time?"

"He'll be here around 1 when our lunch rush ends." I say hoping that it's okay cause I didn't clear it with him.

"Okay, when he gets here you can go sit with him, I'm gonna make you something to eat. Morning sickness is a b***h and that's why you keep feeling sick, eating regularly will help." He turns to go into the kitchen and then turns back around clearing his throat, once again gaining my attention. "Here," he reaches out a hand with a colorful book clutched in it. "Stella got this for you after I told her. I hope it's okay I told her, I know it wasn't my place." He looks like a kid who just got his puppy kicked. He's always confident asshole and right now he looks genuinely sad.

"It's fine, I'm gonna text her to tell her thank you!" I say grabbing the book and walking away, while saying over my shoulder, "Also. to plan where to hide your body for spilling secrets that aren't yours." laughing a little to myself because I think I'm funny when no one else does. I hear Harold grumbling to himself about how the most attractive women are always the craziest, and he's not wrong. His wife, Stella, is a gorgeous natural red head with pale skin and green eyes, she has such delicate facial features and all the right curves to drive any guy mad. Getting back to work I eat the delicious brisket breakfast burrito Harold made me and focus on making sure everything is ready for the rush.

The rush comes around 11:30 and doesn't end till about 1:15. I look up, noticing Jerome sitting at a table waiting for me to get done and come talk to him.

"I'll get him a cup so he can get a drink, take your time and if you don't want to talk to him, then I'll make him leave." Harold says coming up to me, he's been in the office doing orders and inventory and making sure all the financial records are in check.

"I'm okay, I'm just gonna help these last few customers, then the guys can handle the rest." I say, reaching down and feeling my stomach. I realize in that moment, I can't feel this baby yet and that doesn't matter. I will do anything and everything to protect me baby, I will never let my child go through any of the abuses I've faced in my short 20 year life. I know I let people walk all over me, but not anymore, I have my baby to protect. walking over, with my mountain dew in hand, I sit down ready for the awkward conversation about to take place.

"Hey Aleesha, what did you wanna talk about?" Jerome says looking at me like he already knows. Well, shit... Taking a deep breath I look up at him. He's short, maybe 5'7, with light brown hair and light brown eyes. His eyes are kind of golden, with a sharp nose in between them. His hair is cropped short like normal and his hairline is already receding, which is kind of odd for a 24 year old in my opinion.

"Hey, so I wanted you to meet me here so I could talk to you, just let me get it out then we can discuss whatever." I look at him waiting for a response. he just keeps his thin lips pressed together and nods. "I'm pregnant, and I don't want to date or marry you. I don't care about child support, or anything like that. I don't need you in mine or my baby's life. The option will be there if you want it, but there will be no us. Ever." I get it all out quickly not knowing what to expect, I see a small flash of anger in his eyes and I'm reminded why he reminds me of my biological dad.

"I kinda figured that's why you wanted to meet in public and in person instead of just texting or calling. And for the record if I'm gonna have a baby I'm going to be a part of its life." He states very matter of factly and I know that my life will be extremely difficult, because he won't just let me walk away. After talking a little more and explaining that he is really the only option for a possible sperm donor, he gets up to leave and lets me know he'll be in touch. I watch him walk out and sigh in relief as I head back into the kitchen. I see Frankie sitting there will a sad look on his face looking at my book then at the door then back to me. He knows and I start to hate myself. Frankie and I went on a date that went really well and he told me how much he liked me and that was two days before I found out that I'm pregnant.

"So..." He starts, sounding completely heartbroken, "This is yours, and is that?" he points to the door where Jerome has left never taking his eyes off mine.

"Ya, I say, that's the dad. Look Frankie, I'm so sorry. I didn't know and I just found out the night before last." I am trying to ease the heartbreak I know I'm causing. Frankie is such a good guy. He's sweet and funny and he genuinely cares about me, but I know he won't want to take me on with all this extra baggage I just found out about.

"It's okay, I'm just glad it happened now instead of when my heart was fully in it." But the way he says it, I know, his heart was already completely in this and I just ripped it right out of his chest and watched it beat in my hands while he bleeds out on the floor.